Trunk



{No Model.)

A. T. HYDE.

TRUNK. N0.'395,055. Patented Dec. 25, 1888 INV'ENTOR WIl WESSES.

I flttorney UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED T. HYDE, OF OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 395,055, dated December 25, 1888.

Application filed March 23, 1888 Serial No. 268,304- (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED T. HYDE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oil City, in the county of Venango and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Trunk, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the shape, strength, durability, portability, and convenient arrangement of trunks, and to their combination with attachments which transform them into book-cases or dressingbureaus. I attain these objects as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is atop or front view of the trunk, with the lids partly open. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. 3 is a sectional view on the line a: of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a bottom View of the movable shelf e. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of a portion of the movable shelf 0, and Fig. 6 is a top view of the ring-bracket cZ.

- A, O, E, and F are any convenient compartments of a trunk. B is a hat-box. D is the general packing-compartment. a is a look-, ing-glass. Z9 Z9 are supports for the same. 0 and e are detachable shelves. f and g are supports for the same. (Z is a swing-bracket. h, 1', 70, Z, and m are partitions between compartments. a is a splice-piece for the shells. o 0 are hoops. p p are parts of the top or front. q q are lids. r r are casters or rollers. s is the shell. is the bottom or back. a u are spring-hooks. 12 c are spring-bolts.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The general form of the trunk is approxi mately that of a short cylinder, that it may be conveniently moved from place to place by rolling over and over. The outline may be either circular, oval, or a many-sided polygon. The top and bottom or fiat sides are more or less close approximations to plane surfaces. The depth is very considerably less than the diameter. The shell 3 may be wholly of metal or partly of wood, covered with some more tenacious material, and held, strengthened, and protected by hoops o 0, which are so proportioned and secured to the shell .9 as to hold accompanying drawings the shell sis of wood,

the grain running around the trunk, the ends abutting under the splice-block a, and being keyed tight into. the metal skin by a wedge inserted under the splice-block between the opposing ends of the shell 5. The bottom 25 is secured to the partitions h, a, Zn, Z, and m, and to the shell 3 and one hoop 0, and supports the shell as the heading of a barrel supports the staves. The top is composed of the pieces 12 19, secured to the partitions k and Z, the shell 3, and one hoop 0. To these pieces are hinged the lids q q, which rest when closed on the partitions and shell, and support, and are protected by the hoops 0. The partitions h, Z, is, Z, and m are fastened permanently to the bottom 25 and the shell .9, and stiffen and support both. Their arrangement is such that there is a large central packing-space, D, having about the same proportions as those of an ordinary trunk, 011 either side of which are smaller compartments, A O E, &c., and a hatboX, B, all being so arranged with reference to the lids that when said lids are open access may be had directly to eachcompartment. The rollers r are provided for moving short distances when it is desired not to disarrange the contents of the trunk, and they also serve to steady it and prevent accidental rolling over; but they are not so prominent as to hinder convenient transfer by a rolling motion when the latter is desired.

The trunk is provided with ordinary lock, catches, and handles. (Not shown on the drawings.)

The looking-glass supports Z) I) enter suitable sockets in the shell 3 and bottom 25, and support a thin-framed looking-glass, a, which glass is of such size that it may be conveniently packed next the partition is. The supports Z) are easily detachable from both the glass a and the trunk-shell. The shelves 0 and e are attachable to the trunk at pleasure by spring-hooks and bolts, and springsupports f g, which supports and fastening-s engage with suitable openings in the trunk-shell. The supports f and g are so attached to the shelves that they will fold down flat, when desired, for packing, and the shelves when packed next the glass a form a protection for it during transit. (Z is a wash-basin holder whose stem enters proper openings in the shell s, and passing through a packing-block rests in and on the partition 70. Its horizontal part is ring-shaped, and it is of such size as to conveniently support a small wash-basin, and at the same time be small enough to be packed who find it convenient to keep a trunk in rooms commonly used, and also of those who i make short stops, in traveling, at places likely to be not well supplied with ccmvenienees-as I 5 camps, the. Set on its rollers and fitted with its shelves, &e., it is intended to answer the purpose of either a dressing-bureau or bookcase, and in the latter capacity, with suitable scart's and drapery, it becomes a handsome article of furniture.

This trunk is an improvement over any of those now in use in one or more of the following particulars: It is stronger for the same weight and far more durable. Much less cl- 2 5 fort is required to move it from place to place, a child being able to roll it on a level space. It otters greater convenience of access to the contents when packed, as no trays or heavy lid have to be moved in reaching any com- 0 partment. 1t oeeupies less floor-space when set on its rollers, being about the same length as an ordinary trunk and thinner and not requiring to be set out from the wall when opened. It can in a few moments be converted into a useful and ornamental article of furniture by placing its fixtures in position.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A trunk of approximately cylindrical form, having a diameter considerably greater 40 than its length and provided with horizontal and vertical partitions ermanently fixed to the casing and forming compartments, the center one of which is of larger area than those upon each side of it, substantially as herein descriliied.

2. A trunk of a 'iproximately cylindrical form, having a diameter greater than its length and provided with encircling hoops, which serve as rolling-surfaees for the body of the trunk, and internal partitions permanently fixed to the casing and t'm-min eompartments of different sizes, in combination with rollers for holding the trunk in an upright position when in use, and also permitting it to have a rolling movement on its bearing-hoops, substantially as described.

3:3. A trunk of approximately cylindrical form, having a diameter greater than its length and provided with rum-removable partitions permanently fixed to its casing, and hinged lids at one end of the casing, whereby access may be had to the internal compartments without necessitating the removal of the partitions, substantially as herein described.

l. A trunk of approximately cylindrical form, having the encircling hoops which serve as bearing-surfaces, in combination with the removable shelves 0 and 6, having folding supports, and spring-hooks fitted between said encircling hoops, whereby the shelves are secured, substantially as and for the purpose described.

\Vitnesses:

JNU. 1t. PENN, D. J. BOLTON. 

